Inclosed safety switch



April 14, 192s. 1,533,315

' Y P. HARTMANN INCLOSED SAFETY SWITCH Fl'ed May 10, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet1 April 14, 1925.

h1,533,315 P. HARTMANN INCLOSED SAFETY SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Mgy1o, 1921 nvantoz Patented Apr. 14, 1,9125.

y UnixTD STATES rovL HALTMANN, or nnooxLYN, NEW vomi, AssrGNoR, BYMESNF. ASSIGNMENTS,

1,533,315 PATENT oFFl'cia.,=

T IECQN'QIIYv FUSE & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, vCQEACHICAGrO, ILLINOIS, A;G03- l INcLosnn SAFETY SWITCH.

' application mea may 1o, 1921.V serial No. 468,283. l

To all whom it muy concern: f

Be it known that I. Pove HARTMANN, a' subject of Great Britain.residingr in thgl borough of' Brooklyn, of the city of New York, in theState of New York, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements ininelosed Safety Switches, of which the following is a Specification.reference hcing had to.- the accompanyingr drawings, l0 forming a parthereof.

This invention relates to an improved inclosed safety switch whichischaracterizcd by simplicity, cheapness', ease of assembling andadaptability to a wide variety of uses. More lparticularly, theinvention is concerned with a switch of the character described in.which -the vswitch fuses may he housed in a sim'ple'box of stamped metaland the fuse compartmentinclosed by a door which .cannot be opened whilethe switch is closed' The operative relation between the switch and thedoor for the fuse compartment is carried 'further so that the switchcannot be closed while the door is open.

Another "feature 'of the invention has to do with theconstruction' ofthe switch box and itscover and the devices for securing the cover tothe box. These devices in thc preferred embodiment are so related lothe. door for vthe fuse compartment that the cover may not be removedfrom the box until vthe door' for the fuse compartment is opened. Thisinsures that the cover for the boxl may not be removed until the switchis open since one of the characteristics of the entire structure is thatthe door for the fuse compartment may not. be opened except when the-switch is open.

Still other locking devices of various types are associated with theswitch, these locks being'of a positive character and are manipulated byhand, so as to meet a variety of conditions and enable th'e user tosecure the parts against surreptitious manipulation. One of these locks,for instance, enables thedoor for the lfuse coffipartment to belpositively secured; another enables the switch to be positively lockedin open position, while still another enables the switch to be locked inopen position and the door for the use compartment to be locked inclosed position. The improved structure may include further ahand-operated latch mounted within the box and sodisposed with relationto the. switch Vthat may be latched inopen position and,."the, coversubsequently secured on the soas to Vprevent surreptitious release ofthe latch.- l.v

Other features of the invention are concerned with the construction 'o`fthe switch,

with means for adapting the entire ,struc` ture to a three-wire system,and with.aI quick break device which may be`assoc-iated with the switchfor the usual purpose.

These and other objects willall be elaboi rated on in connection withthedetailed de- I scri tion of the particular means illustrated in t 1eaccompanying drawings for carrying' them out.A In the drawings- Figurel'is a view in 'planj` of thejinproved inelosed safety switch i ingbroken-away to show parts within the box. f

Figure 2 is a viewvin side elevation of the box with thev cover'inplace'and the` door to'jthe fuse compartment closed. 'A

box shown in Figure 1.- and -sliowingrthe door to the fuse compartmentopen and the switch positively locked in open position.'

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section `Y1o 'the cover be- Ythe'relationof Figure g3 1s a v1e w of a fragmentotlthe j taken on theplane indicated by; the line 1 -4 of Figure 3 and looking in thedirect1on of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail'vie-w showing the relation of the latchwithin the l box to the switch.

Figure 6 is a schematic view in plan showing the relation of theinsulating bases for clips in a three-wire system as mounted within theimproved box. 1 Before describing the special uses of the improvedinelosed safety switch and 4the improvements in the parts incorporatedtherein,v the elements and their relationv will be pointed out.

The box a of generaiiv rectangular out-ri line is provided with a coverb, one end 4of which may have stamped and formed tlt'fewith lugs badapted to engage slots the together except when disengaged by relativelongitudmal movement therebetween. The cover has stamped and formedadjacent one of its side edges a lug b2. with which co-operates aswinging detent c pivoted, as at c', on the box a and formed with a lugc2 to hold the cover on the box and receive loo box a for the purpose ofholding the parts a positive lo'ck therefor when desired. FromFlgureit'will be seen that the lug c overlies the lug bf when the partsfare alined.

The cover l) hasstamped out of its top l Aan; opening to afford accessto the fuse compartmcnt which lies thercumler. 'l`his openlng ,may beclosed bye; 4door (l hinged to the cover, as at d', and adapted to swingopen to afford. access to the fuse compartment. The door d is stampedand formed with a. depending (lange d? .which ciirries a nlugdwbich,whenv the door is closed, lies in prox'imity to alug c stampedandgtorimed on.. the `-detent;-,fc, as'shown most clearly inlFigelZ;fIhetwo lugs c, d maybe cn- Iaypositive lock to vhold the door(l closed"x At all events it will he evident that theq l at'ii' oftheflugs c? and d when the (loo (I iselosed. is such that thedetent cmay 1 20 xi'tiabout its( pivot c until the door (l i is opened.Thc'ctl'ect ofthis is tri-*prevent A.t.he" lu, froni being disengagedfrom the j .,f'ilugbzfndthe cover b ,removed until the 1 V'docid is)penc d.,; .Thereason for this will appeur later. v

'lhecovcr Ti' hasjournaled therein a rock shaftrk fortheswitch. .Thisrockshaft e, when kthe door is closed, passes through an openin Il*stamped out of the flange (l2, and whent 'e parts are in this relationthe shaft i e ma be rocked freel to openor close the switc `The flange 12 hasistamped out of it a curved slot, 'indicated by dotted lines atdwnV Figure This slot communicates` wththeopeningrlfand is `curved about-1 the hinge joint ld. The width of the slot d islesslthanthe'diameterof the rock shaft .e at Athe-point; wherefit passes throughthe Lflangc''fli-FFfThe rockvshaft e, at the oint 40..where it5'passesthrough'the lflange 7'?, is formed'fJavltlwtangential lslots` atopposite sides-which are of such depth that the diameter of the shaft isreduced to" slightly less than the width of the slot al, Thesetaugentialvs'lots are indicated by dotted lines at e' infFigure 3.

, On the outer end ating handle e which inav or may not include 'aquickbreak device. In the pre- 59 {erred form such a device is included.It consists of il short lever arm f keyed or otherwise secured totheshaft e and terminating in a spring seat f. The handlev a is suprtedloosely on the shaf t e and is extended o5 which terminates in a springseat e. The spring sc atsff, e* are alined and receive be- Y tween thema. suitable spring g., 2peration' of they handlee serves to compresi the0 spring q ,gand the energy stored therein is impressed on the rockshaft. e and serves to give a nick-break tothe switch.

The s aft e withinthe box a is squared, as at c, and supports aninsulating sleeve 05 h towhich. are secured releasably knife l l, l'.an'il l2, l, respectively.

of the shaft c is an operrcyond the shaft to form a .lever arm e bladesi', as by set screws In. The blades i, i', when the switch is closed,span clips 'lhe clips l'. L may he connected to the mains while theclips l, li may be connected to clips Im., m', respectively, forsuitable fuses 11,. The other fuso clips o, o', ina be connected to theeireuit to be supplie 'lho rock shaft e ma oli-.d latch p supportedconveniently on the inner side. wall of the box. Thisl latch is stampedwith a large opening p', as indicated in Figure 5, so that when theshaft e re-fts within this opening, free rotation may be effected. The.opening 7)', however, terminates in a slot p of less width than'theldiameter of the shaft e at the point at which it passes through thelatch p. i'orined ut opposite sides with tangential slots e by which theshaft'at this oint is reduced to a diameter slightly less t an the widthof the slot p2. 7; may beswung until -the shaft e at the point at whichit is'reduced by the slots.` e rests within the reduced slot 7). lViththe parts in that relation the shaft emay not be' oi-cillatad i Afurther feature of the invention is concerned with the provision ofinsulating bases, indicated at r/` r which carry, as self-containedunits, all of the, cli )s and connections. refpeclively, by which t ecurrent is led from one of the, niain.wires through a switch blade andthrough a fuse to the circuit power to be ted. (lne such insulating baseq, for instance, has mounted thereon the. clips l, for the knife. bladei and the fuse clips m, o for one of' the fuses n. This bas-erf/ issecuredv to the bottom of the box a by means oi screws q1, 1/3 passingthrough the buse und threaded throughthc bottom of the box. By providingin the bottom of the box a series of holes for such retaining screws itif: [1o-'sible to secure thereto either two bases, such as 1], lj', asshown in Figure 4, for a two-wire system, or three bases. such as 7, 7.Q, as indicated diagrammatically in Figure f3. for a threewire system,

Having described in greater part the structural features of the iinroved inelosed safety switch and the relation of the elements thereof`some indication of the possible uses and adaptability will be given.Whcnthe 'over d of the fuse' compartment is closed the rock shaft e maybeosc-illated,

The shaft is;

have co-operating i therewith at a point within the box a piv- In thisway, the latch.-

lli

either to engage or disengage the knifel "f-img se enne@ 'with' the.Slet a5 before Athe ."staxnpedjlhereinf`a`fhol'zf tir-'receive afposi-l'tivdloc ',.j siichf estare'. loekfciur be fengaged with itlefhol-frvonly' the 'switch is open andtliel'stralri where-themed n" be o'f die'fore engggediwjth'thefstrap 'r it' (zo-operates with the enl'arge'liientbf` .in sehmanner a'sto-p're- 'vent'itheswitchpfrom being-closed. VInanotlieii' c'onflition'litmaybe desired to lock the switchop'enand thedoor d closed. To permit this; the .door`d i's" de-iwith; -which ma "bealined, when the doorli'sclosed, a lio e' r2 in thestrap 1', thisalineincnt being. possible only when the .switch is' opn. A- positivelock passing Y tl-lrugh-the hole 12 and the lug d6 then `ser`vestosecure the switch in open position and the door d in closed position.

The .hand operated latch p is provided in that,l if desired', the switchmay be lathedin open pbsitonfrom the inside of the box and" the cover bthen secured to the box to guad'-against-snrreptitious manipulationY ofthe latch. When the switch is ont? off the enlargement openedthetangcntihl slots ec in the shaft e' are -brought into alinelnent withthe restricted portion p2. If the'lafel. ,b is then rot-leed on itspivot it will enter ille tangential Contrari'wse the.' door df must'.be:

fectf' ofv1 thisrelationshiip" is "ay liotbe 're'mve'd except'thaethefswitelimay^be= positive-,-

meirthe' lock is thus.

providedv with a lug slots e6 and prevent further oscillation of theshaft e."Y

being made up forthemostpnras slump- The assembling and (lisassembli'ngo f these'parts lh'asl'bee'n' greatly 'facilitated-'by thelugfb OliiLtl'l'f'V ctfll" hand# if desired',

A k x'xghtbeeen' gedgfwithfings.

their [construction `and vrelationshipa and .the

result' is a I substantial' Ereduction" ini'the: total reff-the eeverbz.It win ithen endet. nrreygir Y the `insulati 11g-'sleeve' /L 'on' whichare carried theknife blades i. YVhenthe shaft-'e-is" sleeve zuntilalinedfwit their .respective be slid alonglhe.

clips when the set screw k'm'ay-.be tightened. i

Any one" or more` offthe'bases y, q', @may carried thereonby'firstfrii'ivfinglhe cover' Z, sincev th'e" switch mechanism comes olf,

with the cover; The retainingscrews g?, q

are aecessiblef'when the jeoverf isthus re-y moved.

. While the preferred ffm-me ofen zeine ei.'

ements have -been illustrated and described herein'with someparticula'rity itis tobe un-' derstooljfth'at changesjthereofl. within'.the

parting from skill o'f a. mechaniem'aybe made .withontde-"n-`theinvention' andlit'is also to be understood Ithat the inventionis'not'to be avoided by' the employment of lessthanallf- `of thevelements referred to.. Y

Lcl'aim 'as-my invention.:

1. In combination-.with al line switch and. fuses, a boxin-whiehtli'ey'- aresupported,. al coverfor the box having anopening'.thereinV to give access to the' fuse compartment, a.

door hinged on the cover and .closing-seid' opening, means carriedv withthe door and: co-operating Vwith the switch lo prevent'v opening ot thedoorewhile the switchis closed and prevent' closing of the switch whenthe door! is open, a lug on the cover anda detent pivoted on the boxprovided with a lug",r to (zo-operate withthe first named lug to holdthe cover inplace. l

2. In combination with aline'switeh and fuses, a. box in which they aresupported, :L cover for the box having an opening therein to give accessto the fuse compartment, a door hinged'on the cover and closing saidopening, means carried'Y with the door and comperating with theswiteh'toprevent open- -ing of the door Vwhiletlneswitch is closed andprevent elosing'of the switch when the door is open,.:\ lugr on thecover, n detent pivoted on Vthe box and having a lug co-operating withthe first named lug to hold the cover against. removal, and meanscarried with said door to prevent movement of said dctent when the dooris closed.

3. In combination with a line switch and fuses, a box inwhich they aresu ported, a rock shaft for the' switch jouma ed in the side walls ofthe box,

5 rockI 'shaft pivoted within the box and formed with an -enlarg edopening through which the rock shaft passes-freely and with aconstricted slot communicating with said opening, th rock shaft'theingformed with Il a tangential slotadapted tn -be aline'dwith saidrestricted slot when the switch is openedto permit the latch to beengaged with the shaft and hold it against oscillation. i 4. Incombination with a line switch and fuses, a box in which they aresupported, said box having a removable cover. said coverbeing `providedwith an opening therein to 'rive access to said fuses,v a door hingedonthe cover and closing said opening, holding means for' said coverbandmeans 4mounted uponsaid cover and eo-ilx-.rating with saidfswitch andsaid holding means to prevent lemovalof'said cover while said -\do.'oris closed,the opening of said door' while.

'-5 lsaid switch is closcdnnd the closing of said switch when said dooris open.

5. In combinationwith a line switch and fuses, a boxflin which they aresupported. said box having a removable cover, said .30 cover having anopening therein to give access to said fuses, a door on saidcoverclosing said opening, means carried by the Idoor and co-operating withsaid switch to prevent opening of the door while the switch is closedand prevent the. closing of the switch when the door is open, said coverand box being provided with detent means co- 'operating with said doorto prevent the re moval of said cover while said door is closed.

6. Iii-'combination with a lino switch and fuses, a box in which theyare supported, said box having a cover provided with a hinged doorroviding access to said fuses, a rock shaft or actuating said switch andu swinging detent for 'holding together said cover and door, said roel:shaft, door and detent being provided with interlocking ortions forpreventing movement of said oor except when said rock shaft is-in apredetermined position and preventing operation of said detent exceptwhen said door is in a predetermined position.

7. In combination with `a. line switch and fuses, a box in which theyare supported,

said box having a cover provided with a hinged doo: )roviding access tosaid fuses, a rock shaft or actuating said switch and a swinging datentfor holdin togethersaid cover and door, said rock sha t, door and detentbeing provided with interlocking portions for preventing operation ofsaid rock shaftexwpt when said door is.in a predeterminedl position andpri-,venting operation of Said detcntY except when said door is in apredetermined position.

and a latch for the" 8. In combination with a line switch and .4 fuses,a' hoxin which they are supported said box having a cover provided withaA hinged door for controlling access to said fuses, a rock shaft foractuating said switch` 70 said door being provided with an inter#vlocking portion having an opening through whichsaid rock shaft passes,said interlock- `lng portion being provided with a con st rictedarcuate. slotl communicating with said opening. said rock shaft beingrovided with" a tangential slot adapted to a ign with Y .sa id arcuateslot when the switch is open to permit said door to be opened, said boxand cover being provided lwith a detent for holding` same closed` saidinterlocking portion and said detent having interlocking men'rberswhereby said detent is prevented from moving when said door is in apredetermined posit-ion,

t, In combination. a fuse box having fuse i hlm-ks and switch membersmounted therein, said box beingr provided with a cover having a hingeddoor. .said hinged door providing access to said fuse blocks, a rocksllaft'for 9 eo-o|nration with said switch members, Said door beingrprovided with an arcuate slot, snidfoch shaft being slotted to alignwith .said arcuate slot whereby said door ma l be moved only when saidrock shaft is m a predetermiiml position, said arcuate slot havingcommunicating therewith an enlarged opening permitting free rotation ofsaid rock shaft whereby when said door is closed said rockshaft may turnfreely, saidi box and cover being provided with detent means for holdingsame together, said detent means being provided "."with locking means(fo-operating with 'said door whereby said detent means may be operatedonly when said door is in open position, I l0. In combination with aline switch and f fuses, a box in which they are supported, said boxaving a removable Cover, saidv cover being provided with an openingtherein to give access to said Fuses, a door hinged on the cover andclosing said opening` bolding means [or said cover and nien ns mountedupon said cover and cti-operating with said switch and said holdingmeans to removal of said cover while said door is closed, the opening ofsaid door while said switch is closed and the closing of said switchwhen said dooris open, latch means heilig provided operatipgimle|niulenthv of 120 said door for prevtlguting the closing of saidSwitch. l I' ll. ln combination with aline switch and fuses, a box inwhichlthey are supported` said box having afremmzable cover` said 25cover hm in; A :in opening therein to give. ne cess to said fi'ises'. adoor on .said cover closing said opening` v:1t-ans carried b v the doorand cil-operating with saidswteh to prevent opening of the door fwhlethe switch is prevent "5 closed and .prevent the closing of the switchwhen the door is open, said cover and box being provided with detentmeans co-operating with said door to-prevent the removal of said coverwhile said door is closed, ylatch means being provided operatingindependently of said door for preventing the-closing of said switch. 1l l w 12. In combination with a'line switch land fuses,l a box ingwhichthey are supported,

said boxhaving -a cover provided with a hinged door roviding access to said fuses, a rock shaft or actuating said switch and a swinging detentfor holding together said cover and'dor, said rock shaft, door anddetent being provided with inberlockin portions for preventing operationof sai rock shaft except when said' door is in a predetermined positionand preventingfoperation of said detent except -when said door is in apredetermined position, latch means being provided operatingindependently of said dpo-tfor preventing operation of said rock s aMay, 1921.

PovL HARTMANN.

This speciication signed the 4th day of 25

